Detachable articulated grading implement for backhoe interchange

ABSTRACT

A grading implement for detachable affixation to a dipper of heavy equipment, the grading implement rotatable axially about a rotary point on a mounting bracket by an eccentric hydraulic piston, the grading implement adapted to allow operator control of blade orientation relative to a ground surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to tractor and graders, and more particularly relates to a detachable grader for backhoes.

BACKGROUND Description of the Related Art

The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.

During residential, commercial and road construction operations, the displacement and leveling of material, such as dirt and gravel, is often required to form roads, yards and parking lots. A vehicle known as a grader is typically used to realize grading functions, which usually substantially consists of a tractor unit coupled to a grader via a support bracket.

The grader is moved horizontally over the ground in similar fashion to a snow plow, engaging the ground surface or subgrade only through forward motion of the wheel or track on the tractor.

Traditionally in the art, the grader blade moves only unidirectionally with the tractor itself. This method of operation is disadvantageous, however, in that conventional road graders are very difficult to maneuver. Often times, the entire tractor must make a five or six point turn to grade only a small, missed portion of a ground surface. The turning radii of conventional graders makes this impossible is confined areas. Conventional grades are adapted for grading wide expanses of road, not tight pockets of ground surfaces.

There exists no effect means in the art of moving a grader independently of the tractor. Although backhoe booms and dipper attachments are generally adapted to move independently of the tractor axels along some axes, it is not feasible to use buckets or implements on the backhoe dippers to grade roads because the grading implements must be keep parallel to grading surface—something the backhoe also can accomplish moving only forward and backward in the same manner as conventional graders. The backhoe is often sitting on a different plane from that which needs to be graded.

There is no solution in the art to these inefficiencies. Heavy equipment operators often are left without efficient means of grading road surfaces. Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for a grader solves these inefficiencies in the art. It is an object of the present invention to provide such a solution.

SUMMARY

From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for a detachable grading implement for backhoe interchange. Beneficially, such an apparatus would provide means of curing the deficiencies in the prior art described above, including of keeping a grader level while it is being manipulating along multiple axes simultaneously.

The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available apparati. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a releasable grading implement detachably affixable to a dipper of a backhoe, the grading implement comprising: a concave blade more than twice as wide laterally than the concave blade is tall, the concave blade having two blade sides protruding laterally beyond a width of the mounting bracket; a ground-engaging blade detachably affixed to a lower surface of the concave blade; two flanges disposed at lateral terminal ends of the concave blade; a mounting bracket adapted to releasably affix the concave blade to a dipper of a backhoe; a single hydraulic piston affixed between the mounting bracket and the blade, the hydraulic piston affixed at a proximal end to the mounting bracket and affixed at a distal end to a blade side protruding laterally from the mounting bracket; wherein the hydraulic piston adapted to rotate the concave blade axially around about the mounting bracket such that orientation of the concave blade to a ground surface may be adjusted by an operator to keep the blade parallel to the ground surface.

The grading implement may further comprise a plurality of proximity sensors affixed to a rearward face of the concave blade.

The grading implement may further comprise, in some embodiments, a second hydraulic piston adapted to adjust a pitch angle of the concave blade relative to the ground surface.

The blade may be hingedly connected to the mounting bracket.

The blade may be hingedly connected to the mounting bracket at a rotary point below the proximal end of the hydraulic piston.

The hydraulic piston may extend laterally from the mounting bracket substantially coplanarially with the concave blade.

A second releasable grading implement detachably affixable to a backhoe is provided, the grading implement comprising: a concave blade wider laterally than the concave blade is tall, the concave blade having two blade sides protruding laterally beyond a width of the mounting bracket; a ground-engaging blade detachably affixed to a lower surface of the concave blade; a mounting bracket adapted to releasably affix the concave blade to a dipper of a backhoe; one or more hydraulic pistons affixed between the mounting bracket and the blade, the hydraulic pistons affixed at a proximal end to the mounting bracket and affixed at a distal end to a blade side protruding laterally from the mounting bracket; wherein the hydraulic pistons are adapted to pitch and roll the concave blade axially around about the mounting bracket such that orientation of the concave blade to a ground surface may be adjusted by an operator to keep the blade parallel to the ground surface.

The grading implement may further comprise a plurality of proximity sensors affixed to a rearward face of the concave blade.

The grading implement may also further comprise a second hydraulic piston adapted to adjust a pitch angle of the concave blade relative to the ground surface.

The blade may be hingedly connected to the mounting bracket.

The blade may be hingedly connected to the mounting bracket below the proximal end of the hydraulic piston.

The hydraulic piston may extend laterally from the mounting bracket substantially coplanarially with the concave blade.

Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front side environmental perspective view of a detachable grading implement for backhoe interchange in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear side environmental perspective view of a detachable grading implement for backhoe interchange in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a forward environmental perspective view of a detachable grading implement for backhoe interchange in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side environmental perspective view of a detachable grading implement for backhoe interchange in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a grader blade in accordance with the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

It an object of the present invention to provide a detachable grader having hydraulic means for adjusting the angle of the blade relative to a dipper or boom of a backhoe such that the grader can be used to grade a surface or subgrade from an angle.

FIG. 1 is a front side environmental perspective view of a detachable grading implement for backhoe interchange 100 in accordance with the present invention.

The grading implement 100 comprises a blade 108 which is dimensioned to be wider than a bucket such that when the blade 108 is positioned for grading, the blade extends significantly beyond the lateral edges of the dipper 106. In various embodiments, the blade 108 may extend laterally to approximately the width of the tractor 102, which may comprise a backhoe, front end loader, and the like.

The grading implement 108 comprises a ground-engaging blade 114 detachably affixed to the blade 108 mounted on the bottom edge of the blade 108. The blade 108 is concave to aggregate and distribute material leveled from a ground surface during grading operations.

Flanges 116 form on the ends of the blade 108 to prevent overflow of grading material at the edge of the blade 108.

The advantages of the present invention over other apparati and methods in the art include adjustable to rotate axially relative to the dipper 106 using hydraulics. Grading operations can be performed more quickly and easily with the present invention than by use of the methods described above because the grading implement 100 in the present invention moves independently of the forward-reverse motion of the tractor 102. Because the boom 104 (and dipper 106) can be configured to extend laterally along any radial extending from the tractor 102, and because the grading implement 100 may then be configured to rotate axially relative to the dipper 106 such that the grading implement 100 stays level, or parallel with, a surface, the grading implement 100 allows an operator to grade any surface within a radius of the tractor 102 defined by the reach of the boom 104 and dipper 106.

The present invention can be used partially as a bucket to remove aggregate quickly.

The blade 108 affixed to the dipper or a mounting bracket 112 in an approximately upright position using means known to those of skill in the art. The blade 108 may be angled or positioned forward or backward using hydraulics, movable linkages, hydraulic actuator(s) and the like.

The grading implement 100 comprises an hydraulic piston 110 which affixes at a proximal end to the mounting bracket 112 and which affixes at a distal end to the blade 108. The hydraulic piston 110 is actuated by an operator to retract and extend and pull a lateral edge of the blade 108 inward toward the dipper 106 or push the lateral edge of the blade 108 outward from the dipper 106 such that the blade 108 is operable to rotate axially around the mounting bracket 112 relative the dipper 106 and boom 104.

FIG. 2 is a rear side environmental perspective view of a detachable grading implement for backhoe interchange 200 in accordance with the present invention.

The grading implement 200 is detachably installable on convention backhoe or tractor using a mounting bracket 112 or attachment assembly as known to those of skill in the art. The grading implement replaces a releasable bucket attachment to a heavy equipment.

The grading implement 200 comprises the hydraulic piston 110 shown interconnecting the blade 108 and the mounting bracket 112. A plurality of hydraulic hoses 202 interconnect the grading implement 200 with hydraulic actuators under operator control.

The grading implement is shown in a level position parallel to ground a surface and perpendicular to the dipper 106. In other embodiments, the blade 108 orients at more or less than 90 degrees from the dipper 106.

The grading implement provides for selective orientation of the grading implement 200 on multiple axes using a plurality of hydraulic pistons 110 adapted to provide multiple degrees of freedom including pitch, roll and yaw for adjustment of the grading implement to engage a ground surface in a configuration needed to ensure optimal grading function and reduce grading operator effort and time.

The grading implement is useful in grading roads and leveling surfaces as well as angled surfaces and side hills.

FIG. 3 is a forward environmental perspective view of a detachable grading implement for backhoe 300 interchange in accordance with the present invention.

The blade 108 is oriented in an angled direction to the dipper 106 as shown, caused by extending the hydraulic piston 110.

The blade 108 comprises to two lateral sides 306 a-b as shown which cantilever, or protrude outwardly and laterally, from the mounting bracket 112 and dipper 106.

The grading implement 300 in the shown embodiment comprises two proximity sensors 304 a-b. The proximity sensors 304 a-b are affixed to the rearward convex face of the blade 108. The proximity sensors 304 a-b, in some embodiments, sense the average height of a ground surface and can be adapted to feed proximity information into a data processing device (DPD) which can be configured to automatically adjust the axial rotation of the blade 108 as the grading implement 300 is extending over a ground surface. Using the proximity sensors 304 a-b, the blade 108 may be kept autonomously is substantially level orientation to the ground.

The proximity sensors 304 a-b may be affixed to the mounting bracket 112, the boom 104, the dipper 106, or anywhere else on the grading implement 300 and/or tractor 102.

The hydraulic piston 110 extends outwardly from the mounting bracket 112 across a plane which is parallel to a plane defined by the top and bottom edges of the blade 108.

The mounting bracket in some embodiments comprises a rotary joint 308 about which the blade 108 rotates or articulates.

FIG. 4 is a side environmental perspective view of a detachable grading implement for backhoe interchange 400 in accordance with the present invention.

In the shown embodiment, the blade 108 is rotated downward by the boom 104 and dipper 106 to engage a ground surface 402 in need of leveling/grading.

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a grader blade 500 in accordance with the present invention.

The blade 500 comprises a concave forward surface and is affixed to a forward moving tractor.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A releasable grading implement detachably affixable to a dipper of a backhoe, the grading implement comprising: a concave blade more than twice as wide laterally than the concave blade is tall, the concave blade having two blade sides protruding laterally beyond a width of the mounting bracket; a ground-engaging blade detachably affixed to a lower surface of the concave blade; two flanges disposed at lateral terminal ends of the concave blade; a mounting bracket adapted to releasably affix the concave blade to a dipper of a backhoe; an hydraulic piston affixed between the mounting bracket and the blade, the hydraulic piston affixed at a proximal end to the mounting bracket and affixed at a distal end to a blade side protruding laterally from the mounting bracket; wherein the hydraulic piston adapted to rotate the concave blade axially around about the mounting bracket such that orientation of the concave blade to a ground surface may be adjusted by an operator to keep the blade parallel to the ground surface.
 2. The grading implement of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of proximity sensors affixed to a rearward face of the concave blade.
 3. The grading implement of claim 1, further comprising a second hydraulic piston adapted to adjust a pitch angle of the concave blade relative to the ground surface.
 4. The grading implement of claim 1, wherein the blade is hingedly connected to the mounting bracket.
 5. The grading implement of claim 1, wherein the blade is hingedly connected to the mounting bracket at a rotary point below the proximal end of the hydraulic piston.
 6. The grading implement of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic piston extends laterally from the mounting bracket substantially coplanarially with the concave blade.
 7. A releasable grading implement detachably affixable to a backhoe, the grading implement comprising: a concave blade wider laterally than the concave blade is tall, the concave blade having two blade sides protruding laterally beyond a width of the mounting bracket; a ground-engaging blade detachably affixed to a lower surface of the concave blade; a mounting bracket adapted to releasably affix the concave blade to a dipper of a backhoe; one or more hydraulic pistons affixed between the mounting bracket and the blade, the hydraulic pistons affixed at a proximal end to the mounting bracket and affixed at a distal end to a blade side protruding laterally from the mounting bracket; wherein the hydraulic pistons are adapted to pitch and roll the concave blade axially around about the mounting bracket such that orientation of the concave blade to a ground surface may be adjusted by an operator to keep the blade parallel to the ground surface.
 8. The grading implement of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of proximity sensors affixed to a rearward face of the concave blade.
 9. The grading implement of claim 7, further comprising a second hydraulic piston adapted to adjust a pitch angle of the concave blade relative to the ground surface.
 10. The grading implement of claim 7, wherein the blade is hingedly connected to the mounting bracket.
 11. The grading implement of claim 7, wherein the blade is hingedly connected to the mounting bracket below the proximal end of the hydraulic piston.
 12. The grading implement of claim 7, wherein the hydraulic piston extends laterally from the mounting bracket substantially coplanarially with the concave blade. 